[Name of practice manager]
Please find enclosed promotional materials for Reading Well for long term conditions from your local library service.
About the scheme
This is a national scheme delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians, and provides recommended reading to people living with long term conditions and their carers. The scheme complements existing local health services and is a simple way of delivering prevention and early intervention self-help care and support. It can be used as part of a supported treatment programme.
The booklist of 28 titles provides adults living with long term conditions with advice, information and support including self-help, psycho-education and memoir. The list will cover common symptoms associated with living with a long term condition including; pain, fatigue, sleeping problems, and mental health and wellbeing. It will also include condition-specific titles on; arthritis, bowel conditions (including Inflammatory bowel disease and Irritable bowel syndrome), breathing difficulties (including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma), diabetes, heart disease (including coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack), stroke. The booklist also features a number of titles that cover general information and advice on living well with a long term condition and support for family and carers.
Resources provided
- Patient information leaflets
- Posters
Please share this material with General Practitioners and other health care providers within the practice. For additional copies of posters and leaflets contact [insert library health representative here].
To download supporting resources including a book review guide and FAQs about the scheme go to
How to prescribe a book
Health professionals offering support to people with long term conditions can recommend helpful reading using the booklist in the leaflet. Hard-copy versions of the leaflet are available from local library services and can be downloaded in digital form from
People take their book recommendation to the local library where it can be borrowed for free. If the book is not immediately available, it can be reserved.
People can also self-refer to the scheme and borrow books without a recommendation.
Reading Well follows clinical guidelines for the treatment and support of long term conditions. Specific self-help interventions are included when recommended within NICE guidelines.
The books were selected by health professionals following a rigorous and evidence-based approach. The scheme has been co-produced with people with lived experience.
Where are the books available?
The books are available in [insert relevant library information]. The scheme is free to use and books can be loaned for up to [insert loan length] weeks.
Other library services and resources
The user guide also tells people about other health and wellbeing services offered by libraries.
If you have any questions regarding the scheme contact [insert library health contact] or The Reading Agency at
Best wishes,
[name]
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